DOROTHY COLEY
Early Sunday morning, February 27, 2005, God allowed His earthly saint, Mrs. Dorothy H. Coley, to end her battle. She had borne her illness courageously, suffering in silence -- never complaining.
Mrs. Coley was born in Wayne County to the late Leamon and Bertha Lewis Hill. She was the wife of the late Rudolph Coley Sr.
A love for people is what steered Mrs. Coley into the healthcare profession. How-ever, her employment history began at Cherry Hospital (known as "the State") working in the laundry. She worked there for 15 years before relocating to Lawton, Oklahoma, and then to Philadelphia, Pa., where she began her career in healthcare and worked in the field for 12 years, receiving numerous awards for meritorious service.
Upon her return to North Carolina in 1977, Mrs. Coley returned to employment at "the State" -- this time at the "O'Berry Center." Each client assigned to her made her love and compassion for the healthcare profession grow deeper. Again, she received awards, certificates and other recognitions of achievements. Finally she retired with 26 years of service with the State of North Carolina.
At 70 years of age, Mrs. Coley decided that retirement was not what she wanted to do so she returned to work with a health home agency and worked another three years.
Stronger than her love for her fellow man was her love for the Lord. She accepted Christ at a very young age uniting with the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Fremont. She later joined the Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she worked faithfully and untiringly with the Missionaries and the Senior Choir for approximately 25 years until health issues caused her to curtail these activities.
Mrs. Coley leaves to cherish her precious memory three children, Vivian (James) Malloy of Kingwood, Texas, Rudolph Jr. (Sharon) Coley of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Clarence (Mittie) Coley of Goldsboro; six grandchildren; seven grandchildren; a very special sister/friend, Mrs. Elnora Vinson; a goddaughter, Mrs. Cynthia Bryant; and numerous other relatives and friends including her very special Best Grove Church Family.
The homegoing celebration will be held on Friday, March 4, 2005, at 1 p.m. at the Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Jackson officiating. The family will be at the church at 12 noon, one hour immediately preceding the service, for visitation, remembrances and encouragement. Burial will follow in the Coley Cemetery.
Hamilton Funeral Chapel of Goldsboro is in charge of services.
(Written & Paid by the Family)
Published in Obituaries on March 2, 2005 2:09 PM